It happened south of northwest 62nd Avenue and Silver Birch Street in Johnston.

Flames reached above the treeline and people reported seeing the blaze more than a mile away.

Firefighters said no one was home when it started, the family was reportedly at church.

The fire ripped through the home and caused significant damage, and firefighters had trouble pinpointing where the fire started.

"When the police first arrived, it was through the roof in one area. So it's going to be too difficult at this point to determine where exactly it is, but to burn through a roof like that usually takes about 20 minutes or better. So this had quite a head start," said Grimes Fire Chief Jim Krohse.

This morning a Johnston home is a total loss after an overnight fire. Flames reached above the tree-line and people reported seeing the blaze more than a mile away. It happened south of northwest 62nd avenue and silver birch street. No one was home when it started, the family was reportedly at church. The fire ripped through the home and caused significant damage... And firefighters had trouble pinpointing where the fire started. "WHEN THE POLICE FIRST ARRIVED, IT WAS THROUGH THE ROOF IN ONE AREA... SO IT'S GOING TO BE TOO DIFFICULT AT THIS POINT TO DETERMINE WHERE EXACTLY IT IS BUT TO BURN THROUGH A ROOF LIKE THAT USUALLY TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTES OR BETTER. SO THIS HAD QUITE A HEAD START." The cause of the fire is still

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